scholarly journals Saffron: A Multitask Neuroprotective Agent for Retinal Degenerative Diseases

Antioxidants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Di Marco ◽  
Veronica Carnicelli ◽  
Nicola Franceschini ◽  
Mattia Di Paolo ◽  
Marco Piccardi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Visual Function ◽  
Recovery Period ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Chemical Components ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Enzyme Activity Assay ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Age Related

Both age related macular degeneration (AMD) and light induced retinal damage share the common major role played by oxidative stress in the induction/progression of degenerative events. Light damaged (LD) rats have been widely used as a convenient model to gain insight into the mechanisms of degenerative disease, to enucleate relevant steps and to test neuroprotectants. Among them, saffron has been shown to ameliorate degenerative processes and to regulate many genes and protective pathways. Saffron has been also tested in AMD patients. We extended our analysis to a possible additional effect regulated by saffron and compared in AMD patients a pure antioxidant treatment (Lutein/zeaxanthin) with saffron treatment. Methods: Animal model. Sprague-Dawley (SD) adult rats, raised at 5 lux, were exposed to 1000 lux for 24 h and then either immediately sacrificed or placed back at 5 lux for 7 days recovery period. A group of animals was treated with saffron. We performed in the animal model: (1) SDS-PAGE analysis; (2) Western Blotting (3) Enzyme activity assay (4) Immunolabelling; in AMD patients: a longitudinal open-label study 29 (±5) months in two groups of patients: lutein/zeaxanthin (19) and saffron (23) treated. Visual function was tested every 8 months by ERG recordings in addition to clinical examination. Results: Enzymatic activity of MMP-3 is reduced in LD saffron treated retinas and is comparable to control as it is MMP-3 expression. LD treated retinas do not present “rosettes” and microglia activation and migration is highly reduced. Visual function remains stable in saffron treated AMD patients while deteriorates in the lutein/zeaxanthin group. Conclusion: Our results provide evidence of an additional way of action of saffron treatment confirming the complex nature of neuroprotective activities of its chemical components. Accordingly, long term follow-up in AMD patients reveals an added value of saffron supplementation treatment compared to classical antioxidant protocol.

scholarly journals Longitudinal Study of Visual Function in Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration at 12 Months

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (8) ◽  
pp. 637-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Tammy Hsu ◽  
Atalie C. Thompson ◽  
Sandra S. Stinnett ◽  
Ulrich F.O. Luhmann ◽  
Lejla Vajzovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Visual Function ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Age Related

scholarly journals CIB2 regulates mTORC1 signaling and is essential for autophagy and visual function

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saumil Sethna ◽  
Patrick A. Scott ◽  
Arnaud P. J. Giese ◽  
Todd Duncan ◽  
Xiaoying Jian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Function ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽  
Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Retinal Pigment ◽  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Mtorc1 Signaling ◽  
Marked Accumulation

AbstractAge-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder. Although molecular mechanisms remain elusive, deficits in autophagy have been associated with AMD. Here we show that deficiency of calcium and integrin binding protein 2 (CIB2) in mice, leads to age-related pathologies, including sub-retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) deposits, marked accumulation of drusen markers APOE, C3, Aβ, and esterified cholesterol, and impaired visual function, which can be rescued using exogenous retinoids. Cib2 mutant mice exhibit reduced lysosomal capacity and autophagic clearance, and increased mTORC1 signaling—a negative regulator of autophagy. We observe concordant molecular deficits in dry-AMD RPE/choroid post-mortem human tissues. Mechanistically, CIB2 negatively regulates mTORC1 by preferentially binding to ‘nucleotide empty’ or inactive GDP-loaded Rheb. Upregulated mTORC1 signaling has been implicated in lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) cancer. Over-expressing CIB2 in LAM patient-derived fibroblasts downregulates hyperactive mTORC1 signaling. Thus, our findings have significant implications for treatment of AMD and other mTORC1 hyperactivity-associated disorders.

Relative Effects of Aging and Age-Related Macular Degeneration on Peripheral Visual Function

1997 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 152-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
KAREN HOLOPIGIAN ◽  
WILLIAM SEIPLE ◽  
VIVIENNE GREENSTEIN ◽  
DANIEL KIM ◽  
RONALD E. CARR
Keyword(s):  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Visual Function ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Effects Of Aging

Application of 25-National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire in ophthalmological patients

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Luciano Mesquite Simmo ◽  
Carissa Fouad Ibrahim ◽  
Senice Alvarenga Rodrigues Silva ◽  
Thai Nunes Andrade ◽  
Doora Faleiros Leite ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Function ◽  
Peripheral Vision ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Eye Diseases ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Ischemic Optic Neuropathy ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Visual Function Questionnaire ◽  
The Impact

Objective: To compare the vision-targeted health related quality of life (HRQOL) between neuro-ophthalmological patients and other eye diseases by the National Eye Institute 25-Item Visual Function Questionnaire. Methods: Cross sectional study with a control group and patients with the following pathologies: primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), intracranial hypertension (IH), optic neuritis (ON), ptosis and cataract. Results: All comparisons of the subscales scores among the control group and the patient groups were statistically significant (p<0.05) except for “ocular pain” (p=0.160), “social functioning” (p=0.052) and “peripheral vision” (p=0.112). The control group had the best scores across all dimensions of the NEI VFQ-25. Interestingly, the ARMD and cataract groups presented the best and worst total scores of NEI VFQ-25, respectively. The lowest subscales scores were found in the cataract, in the NAION/ON, and in the POAG groups. Finally, the comparison between the NAION/ON/IH patients and the other eye diseases did not show statistical significance in any subscale. Conclusion: The NEI VFQ-25 showed the impact of various eye conditions in vision-targeted HRQOL, and no difference was measured between neuro-ophthalmological patients and other eye diseases

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